All About Yacht Charters - Supplementary Info: February 2011

Friday, February 18, 2011

SEAMANSHIP PROGRAM - Schooner Bonnie Lynn

Schooner Bonnie Lynn

Seamanship Program

June & October 2011

Schedule & Outline

OUR GOAL

Students who take our course will be better prepared to handle the unexpected circumstances that can arise when boating. An increased awareness will help them avoid dangerous situations.

'Bonnie Lynn’ is the ideal classroom. Last summer, in our homeport of Islesboro, ME, we offered 2 day/1 night courses for 9 - 11 year olds. and 3 day/2 night courses for 12-15 year olds. Six to eight students slept onboard and worked as part of the crew.

We will again be offering Junior Seamanship Courses on Islesboro this coming summer, as well as expanding the program to include adult courses. The Islesboro schedule will be posted at a later date.

During the months of June and October 2011, we will be offering Junior and Adult Seamanship Courses out of Newport, Rhode Island.

JUNE 2011: NEWPORT, RI - COURSE SCHEDULES

Sessions are limited to 12 students.
Price includes food, beverages and training manual
Students board 'Bonnie Lynn' at Newport Harbor Hotel Marina at 8:30 a.m. and disembark 5:15 p.m.

2-Day Programs:
June 4-5, 11-12, 18-19, and 25-26

$300/person

3-Day Programs:
June 7-9, 14-16, and 21-23

$450/person

**Contact us about special group and family rates**

OCTOBER 2011: NEWPORT, RI - COURSE SCHEDULES

Sessions are limited to 12 students.
Price includes food, beverages and training manual
Students board 'Bonnie Lynn' at Newport Harbor Hotel Marina at 8:30 a.m. and disembark 5:15 p.m.

2-Day Programs:
October 1-2, 8-9, 18-19, and 25-26

$300/person

3-Day Programs:
October 4-6, 11-13, and 18-20

$450/person

**Contact us about special group and family rates**

Schooner Bonnie Lynn

2-DAY PROGRAM - DAILY SCHEDULE

Day 1

0830 - Welcome Aboard - Juice/coffee/tea, fruit & muffins. Introductions, hand out life vests & training manuals.

0900 - Basic Safety Orientation - Discuss location and use of safety equipmen, including life jackets, life rafts, life ring & water light, EPIRB, radios, life sling, fire extinguishers, flares, boat hooks and medical kit. Describe mustering and emergency procedures for MOB, Fire, and Abandon Ship. Talk about "Situational Awareness" and the use of a check off list.

1000 - Underway - Hoist sails - student participation encouraged. Discuss Rules of the Road and watch keeping. Describe actual emergency situations, the outcomes, and how they could have been avoided.

1100 - Know your Position - Explain latitude and longitude, charts, compass and GPS; estimating distance, direction and describing your geographic location.

1215 - Lunch - light lunch, usually soup/salad and sandwiches, beverages, dessert and snacks.

1300 - Communications - Discuss proper VHF-FM and cellphone use for security and distress calls. The use of Security, PanPan, and Mayday calls, and procedures during communication with Coast Guard. Obtaining proper marine weather information.

1400 - Situations - Students practice using radios and cellphones to contact Coast Guard and other emergency services. How to give concise position and situation information to aid in rapid response. This is a fun exercise.

1500 - Line Handling - Basic knots, bends and hitches. Proper use of cleats, throwing a coil of line for towing and docking.

1630 - Dockside - Students can use this time for additional instruction, questions, etc.

1715 - Students disembark

Day 2

0830 - All Aboard - Juice, coffee, tea, fruit and muffins. Question and answer.

0900 - Underway - Review MOB, Fire procedures, other emergency situations and how to avoid them. Conduct drills.

1045 - Use of Flares and Signaling Devices - Discuss when to use different types of flares, including red meteor, handheld rocket, orange smoke, and electronic. Each student shoots a 12 gauge meteor flare launcher and ignites a handheld locater flare. We provide gloves and safety glasses.

1215 - Lunch - light lunch, usually soup/salad, sandwiches, beverages, dessert and snacks.

1300 - Onboard Fires - Classifications of fires and how to fight each type. Each student discharges a fire extinguisher. Discuss fire and carbon monoxide alarms.

1400 - Rules of the Road - Introduction to right of way and collision avoidance using hands-on simulations. Discuss emergency and maneuvering sound signals.

1530 - Course Review - Questions and discussion

1600 - Dockside -

1715 - Students Disembark -

3-DAY PROGRAM - DAILY SCHEDULE

Day 1 - Same as above for 2-Day Program

Day 2 - Same as above for 2-Day Program

Day 3

0830 - All Aboard - Juice/coffee/tea, fruit and muffins.

0900 - Underway - Hoist sails, marine weather - dealing with severe conditions and lightning.

1100 - Anchoring - Principles of anchoring, types of anchors, using ranges to determine anchor set. Where to anchor, students practice anchoring 'Bonnie Lynn'.

1215 - Lunch - light lunch, usually soup/salad, sandwiches, beverages, dessert and snacks.

1300 - Haul Anchor, Underway - Getting home in limited visibility if instruments fail - using our "six" senses to full advantage.

1500 - Legal Requirements - Required equipment, getting towed vs. salvage, licensing.

1600 - Course Review - Question and answer while we enjoy sailing home.

1630 - Dockside -

1715 - Students Disembark -

BONNIE LYNN offers very comfortable accommodations for up to 6 guests and is ideal for couples and families alike (up to 8 guests for families). Three spacious guest cabins and two adjoining guest heads & showers are located in the private, forward area with crew cabin and crew head & shower located aft. Starboard guest cabin has double bed & port guest cabin has double bed which can convert to single bed with day couch. The forward guest cabin has a starboard bunk that pulls out to a large double and to port a lower single & small upper double.

Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book your Seamanship Course
View Bonnie Lynn's online brochure
For more yachts, visit our website: www.ParadiseConnections.com

Sunday, February 13, 2011

ITINERARY - British Columbia - Great Bear Rainforest

Pacific Northwest: Great Bear Rainforest

British Columbia, Canada
1-Week Sample Itinerary

m/v Pacific Yellowfin

Please understand that this is just a sample itinerary. While cruising in the Pacific Northwest, tidal streams, weather conditions, and wildlife determine our routes and destinations.

Great Bear Rainforest

The Broughton Archipelago forms the buffer between the rough open waters of the Queen Charlotte Sound and the narrow convoluted waterways of the inner Inside Passage. At its western edge, rugged little islands with unusual names such as White Cliff and Fog Islets take the rough weather blowing in from the northwest. Deep surge channels, steep cliffs and stunted trees are common features. Further east larger islands offer protected anchorages for the many yachts that cruise these waters but still offering an "edge of the wild" experience. The archipelago offers an exceptionally rich marine environment.

Day 1: Vancouver - Bella Bella - Fjordland Conservancy

Arrive in Bella Bella airport and transfer to the Pacific Yellowfin. The first destination, Fjordland Provincial Park, is a wonderful place to explore by boat and kayak with some of the most sensational scenery on the coast. Mussel Inlet is the major estuary here. It’s a 14 km fjord with stunning waterfalls and sheer granite cliffs, with huge numbers of spawning salmon and high concentrations of Grizzly and Black Bears. This area is also home to the Kitasoo First Nations. Choose a guided kayaking trip or an easy hike to introduce yourself to this magnificent part of the world.

Day 2: Fjordland - Queen Charlotte Sound

Travel through Queen Charlotte Sound to the river estuary, a major salmon river and estuary for grizzly and waterfowl. Explore this area and a nearby waterfall and undeveloped hot spring by kayak or zodiac. Across the sound is another river with an impressive waterfall that drops into the channel. The Kitasoo consider this river one of the most important fish habitats in the area. This is a great place to view bears and is one of the better spots to wait for the Spirit Bear to appear. Enjoy guided Bear viewing by boat and excellent seas kayaking in the Inlet.

Day 3: Queen Charlotte Sound - Bishop Bay

From Queen Charlotte Sound we will journey north to Bishop Bay. Bishop Bay in the fall is a congregating area for feeding humpback whales. Visit a well-developed hot spring set in spectacular scenery. At a nearby river there is some of the best Spirit Bear viewing in the area. A local Gitgaat Guide will take us into the river to search for these special mammals with thousands of spawning salmon running the river below. Other wildlife to be encountered are otters, wolf, deer and the ubiquitous Bald Eagles.

Days 4 & 5: Bishop Bay - Princess Royal Island

Explore Princess Royal Island the fourth largest island on the BC Coast. From Bishop Bay travel west to begin your exploration of this incredible island rich in wildlife and adventure.

Day 6: Hartley Bay and Barnard Harbour

From Hartley Bay travel south to Barnard Harbour, a beautiful protected anchorage which will
be the base for a variety of adventures and tours. This area is also home to the Spirit Bear and a
very rich marine environment.

Day 7: Hartley Bay

Additional Spirit Bear viewing can be done here. Tour the village of Hartley Bay and experience
the rich culture of this special community. We will have a traditional dinner, village tour and time
spent with close friends.

Day 8: Hartley Bay – Bella Bella – Vancouver

Say farewell to the North Coast as the seaplane arrives to take you back to Bella Bella and Vancouver.

Click to enlarge chart

Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book PACIFIC YELLOWFIN
View Pacific Yellowfin's online brochure #1 and online brochure #2
For more yachts, visit our website: www.ParadiseConnections.com

ITINERARY - British Columbia - Broughton Archipelago

Pacific Northwest: Broughton Archipelago

British Columbia, Canada
1-Week Sample Itinerary

m/v Pacific Yellowfin

Please understand that this is just a sample itinerary. While cruising in the Pacific Northwest, tidal streams, weather conditions, and wildlife determine our routes and destinations.

The "Broughton Archipelago" forms the buffer between the rough open waters of the Queen Charlotte Sound and the narrow convoluted waterways of the inner Inside Passage. At its western edge, rugged little islands with unusual names such as White Cliff and Fog Islets take the rough weather blowing in from the northwest. Deep surge channels, steep cliffs and stunted trees are common features. Further east, larger islands offer protected anchorages for the many yachts that cruise these waters but still offering an "edge of the wild" experience. The archipelago offers an exceptionally rich marine environment.

Day 1: Welcome to the Broughton Archipelago

Fly from Vancouver BC to Port McNeil on Vancouver Island by chartered seaplane, or directly to Port Hardy on Vancouver Island by private jet or scheduled flight. Transfer to the M/V Pacific Yellowfin for a champagne welcome reception. Take a short cruise to Alert Bay and visit the U’Mista Cultural Centre celebrating the rich First Nations culture of this part of the coast. Continue on to the historic mill town of Telegraph Cove featuring boardwalks and an interpretive centre. In this part of the Inside Passage, there’s a good chance of viewing Orca whales.

Day 2: Orcas & Bears

Get up close and personal with the black bears that forage for crabs at low tide and make these small islets their home. Continue though Johnstone Straight to see Orca whales that are abundant in these waters. Conclude the day with a vigorous hike on Hansen Island to a viewpoint that overlooks the whole region.

Day 3: Into the Wild

Explore the native heritage of the area with visits to some of the best preserved native sites including pictographs (ancient rock paintings) and shell “Middens.” End the day with a spectacular guided kayaking trip through a remote lagoon. Area wildlife includes grizzly bears, black bears, eagles, Humpback whales, Orca whales, seals, Steller sea lions and wolves!

Day 4: The Archipelago

Enjoy a full-day’s guided kayaking trip through the myriad small islands of the Broughton Archipelago Marine Park. Guests can stay onboard the Yellowfin while it sails north to rendez-vous with us for dinner if the kayaking is too strenuous.

Days 5 & 6: Northern Extremities

Explore the remote northern islands in the Polkinghorne Group with excellent kayaking and beach combing opportunities. See Orcas, dolphins and all types of fauna and flora. Continue to cliff ringed Carriden Bay and Embely Lagoon to see bears and some spectacular waterfalls and tidal rapids.

Day 7: Return to Civilization

Return through Queen Charlotte Sound to Port McNeil for your return flight to Vancouver.

Click to enlarge chart

ITINERARY - British Columbia - Desolation Sound

Pacific Northwest: Desolation Sound and the Broughton Archipelago

British Columbia, Canada
10-Day Sample Itinerary

m/v Pacific Yellowfin

Please understand that this is just a sample itinerary. While cruising in the Pacific Northwest, tidal streams, weather conditions, and wildlife determine our routes and destinations.

Desolation Sound, the largest and perhaps best-known archipelago in British Columbia, is considered by many boaters to be one of the top three cruising grounds in the world, along with Fiji and New Zealand's Bay of Islands. The waters of Desolation Sound are calm, sheltered and warm with lots of protected anchorages, and plentiful oysters, clams, prawns and salmon. The archipelago consists of more than 14,000 acres of high land and 6,350 acres of shoreline and water. There are also numerous lakes and waterfalls in Desolation Sound, and the warmest salt water north of Mexico (75 - 82° degrees Fahrenheit!) awaiting swimmers in Pendrell Sound.

Captain George Vancouver who first sailed here in 1792, saw a silent and remote coast. He named the area Desolation Sound. The shoreline varies from low rolling hills to 4500-foot peaks with many protected anchorages tucked into bays, coves and inlets.

The sheltered waters, islands and bays of Desolation Sound are suitable for exploration by small boats, kayaks and canoes with many opportunities to enjoy swimming, fishing, picnicking and hiking.

Highlights/ Options:

Stops in Desolation Sound and enjoying the warmest water north of Mexico. Pacific Yellowfin has all the toys onboard.
Shoot the rapids at Yuculta and head into Johnstone Strait
Do some prawning and enjoy the rewards on the back deck.
Visit Sointula, envisioned as a utopian community by Finnish emigrants in the last century, now a quaint fishing harbour lined with Victorian Homes. Contrast with Alert Bay native community across the channel with its huge totem poles and Kwakuitl (People of the Raven) Museum.
Go tide pooling at low tide. Witness and touch some of the most abundant, and slimy, life anywhere on the planet.
Head into Johnstone Strait and Blackfish sound by tender or, if you really want some adrenaline, by kayak to view magnificent Orca Whales. Listen in on their conversations through the hydrophone.
Cruise the shoreline early in the morning at low tide, the best time to see black bears patrol the beach for breakfast
Take a tender to Glendale cove and watch black or grizzly bears fishing for spawning salmon.
Speaking of salmon- grab a rod and meet on the back deck.
Look for glass beads on the beach at Karlukwees, village site for Kwakuitl Natives for 6000 years. Check our petroglyphs on the way back to the boat.
Enjoy a book or movie in your stateroom, or peruse the charts on the bridge and plan tomorrows adventure.
Meet with local inhabitants.

Day 1

Arrive via charter seaplane to the Pacific Yellowfin at anchor at Taku Resort on Quadra Island. Champagne reception and lunch. Assist the crew in checking the prawn traps previously set, hopefully we will be having prawn cocktails that evening. Depart for Manson’s Landing.

Day 2

Enjoy breakfast aboard followed by a walk to the lagoon to view sand dollars in the tidal pools. Should it be high tide we can do an easy introductory kayak ride. Hike on the old school house trail with a visit to Cortes Museum, showcasing past island life. At all times keeping our eyes open for bald eagles. After lunch, cruise to the sheltered waters of Squirrel Cove for a guided kayaking tour. If the tides are right we can shoot the falls into a tidal lake.

Day 3

In the morning cruise to Teakerne Arm before heading north keeping a lookout for harbour seals and Dall’s porpoises. Visit the oyster farm and chat with the resident oyster lady, aka the real female version of Crocodile Dundee. Visit her oyster floats and have a marine biological extravaganza with all of the wildlife that live on the floats: sea urchins, sea slugs, sea anemones, and lots lots more. Visit Cassel Falls and take a leisurely hike through the forest followed by a swim and rock diving in Cassel Lake. Afternoon cruise to Mink Island. Resident minks still run free on this island, as it was once a mink farm in its past days.

Day 4

Enjoy stunning views of the provincial marine park on a morning cruise to Pendrell Sound. Swim in the Sound, also known as the Mexico of the north, with waters reaching 28 degrees Celsius (82 F) in the summer. Spend the afternoon playing in the waters on the Pacific Yellowfin’s water trampoline and slides. If speed is what you are looking for we can take the Seadoo for a ride on the flat waters of this massive fiord. In late afternoon cruise to Black Lake for a hike to see the beaver working her dam.

Day 5

After breakfast, take a short cruise to Refuge Cove. Visit the general store and grab an islands-style Starbucks. Continue on to Von Donop Inlet where we cross the reef to a protected anchorage under an amazing bald eagles nest. This nest is always active with chicks. Grab our swimming gear and do a leisurely hike through the rain forest to a mountaintop lake for a refreshing swim. Back to Von Donop where we can wakeboard, water ski, tube, hot dogs, or kayak until dinner on board. Roasting marshmallows over and open fire is always good way to end the day.

Day 6

Cruise to Thursten Bay in Nodales Channel. This journey goes through the largest rapids on the coast, the Yuculta Rapids, Dent Rapids, and Gillard Pass. This transit must be made at slack water and once we are through we are now in prime Orca whale watching territory. This area is the beginning of a home to 250 orca whales that cruise the Johnston Straits area. While at anchor in Thursten Bay, a sharp eye has to be kept for bears foraging on the beach.

NOTE: We can see orca whales at any time from here to end of the charter. We also see Pacific White Sided Dolphins (last year in a school of 70-100).

Day 7

Day seven is an all day boat journey cruising through Johnstone Straits to reach the Broughton Archipelago, which is home to many First Nations bands. We will have the opportunity to visit a few sites. Most routes pass old native sites and pictographs (ancient rock paintings). From the Pearce Group we take a small boat crossing to Swanson Island, 15 minutes away. This is an excellent opportunity to see black bears foraging on the beach for crab at low tide. Very close encounters from the safety of the vessel. These bears are mainly concerned with eating and don’t mind the company. Mink whales are common on the islands north shore and some grey whales, which have only returned to the area in the last five years, could be seen as well.

Day 8

We are under way to the next island to visit Cormorant Island, the village of Alert Bay, which holds the largest First Nations population in B.C. This community recently reclaimed their historic carved crafts which were seized by the Government under the Potlatch Laws and dispersed to museums across North America. They are now housed in a new, award winning showcase museum, the U’mista Cultural Centre. From the waterfront approach, Alert Bay is very colourful against the brooding back drop of old-growth forests. Gaily painted houses have now become a summertime attraction for the Vancouver-Alaska cruise ships. An ecological walk through these ancient forests reveals a boardwalk, which crosses a swamp at the summit of the Island. This area is biologically diverse and hosts a multitude of bizarre science fiction views.

Or, we can go to Telegraph Harbour, only 30 minutes away. A rejuvenated sawmill town set on a small cleft in the coastline. Most of the wooden buildings are originals, set on piles over the waters edge, connected by boardwalks. This is a rare glimpse of how British Columbia’s coastal communities were construction in a land with very level ground. Very colourful and quaint, the village showcases the Whale Museum. This old building is now an interpretive centre housing biological samples, whale skeletons, and other displays.

Day 9

Visit the Polkinghorne Group for excellent kayaking opportunities with a picnic ashore. These islands stand alone in the Queen Charlotte Sound because they each have a different flora and fauna showing a distinctly different feel. We continue north to Carriden Bay, a voyage of only one hour to arrival. The anchorage is a large bay ringed with cliffs and mountains, Ansell Adams type scenery, and great views of snow-clad Mt. Stevens. Try some small craft exploration to Embely Lagoon for bears and an overflow basin with a waterfall and tidal rapids at Neph Lagoon. Hike to a freshwater lake above Turnbull Cove to see the massive cliff faces in Mackenzie Sound. This area would easily take a minimum of two days alone to see the significant features by small boat.

Day 10

Without retracing our path we will cruise to our point of departure, Port McNeil. On the way we will visit Numas Islands where one may find vintage Japanese glass fishnet floats. Rendezvous with your chartered seaplane flight back to Vancouver.

Click to enlarge chart

ITINERARY - British Columbia - Gulf Islands & Victoria

Pacific Northwest: Gulf Islands and Victoria, British Columbia Canada
5-Day Sample Itinerary

m/v Pacific Yellowfin

Please understand that this is just a sample itinerary. While cruising in the Pacific Northwest, tidal streams, weather conditions, and wildlife determine our routes and destinations.

Highlights:

Special Chefs Dinner featuring Pacific North West cuisine including matching wines aboard the M.V Pacific Yellowfin.
Guided tour of Salt Spring Island wineries and farms.
Motorbike and bike ride on Saturna Island with picnics.
Renowned Butchart Gardens and lunch.
Sightseeing tour of Victoria including horse-drawn carriage ride and afternoon tea.
Guided kayaking and hiking tours.
Guided viewing of Orca whales and porpoises.

Day 1: Vancouver ~ Galiano Island

Welcome champagne reception for your departure trip from Steveston through the Fraser River Delta, then crossing the Straight of Georgia to finish the cruise on Galiano Island. Guided kayaking trip around Montague Harbour and surrounding islands will follow. Welcome Dinner onboard and overnight.

Day 2: Galiano Island ~ Salt Spring Island

Enjoy breakfast while cruising to Ganges on Salt Spring Island to visit the famous farmer’s market known for its “Make it, bake it or grow it on the Gulf Islands” philosophy. Continue with a tour of the island with a Salt Spring native to learn about its wineries, organic farms, cheese makers, as well as many renowned art galleries.

Day 3: Salt Spring Island ~ Saturna~ Pender Island

Cruise to unspoilt Saturna Island while enjoying a buffet breakfast. Take a motorbike or bike ride to the Lighthouse at the southern tip of the island. Savour a picnic lunch and a short cruise to Pender Island where you will spend the night at anchor.

Day 4: Pender Island ~ Whale Watching ~ Brentwood Bay

Greet the day with a guided hike up Mount Norman, before breakfast. The rest of the day will be spent viewing Orcas, Porpoises and Seals around the Gulf Islands. Late afternoon cruise to Brentwood Bay.

Day 5: Brentwood Bay ~ Victoria ~ Brentwood Bay

In the morning visit the famous Butchart Gardens for a backdoor-guided tour and then enjoy lunch here at Butchart. In the afternoon visit Victoria with its English teashops, and ride along the waterfront in a horse-drawn carriage around the inner harbour. Join in the tradition and sip afternoon tea. Return to the boat for dinner onboard and overnight.

Day 6: Brentwood Bay ~ Active Pass ~ Vancouver

Morning departure back to Vancouver through the beautiful Active Pass while enjoying your last brunch onboard.

Click to enlarge chart

Friday, February 11, 2011

ITINERARY: New England: 4-day yacht charter sailing itinerary

NEW ENGLAND - Four-Day Yacht Charter Itinerary, by Tom Rowe

Day One, 09:00am:
Depart Newport for Martha's Vineyard. Sailing out the scenic East Passage of Narragansett Bay and then turning east, along Ocean Drive, you will pass a number of the grandiose "Summer Cottages" which proliferate along the waterfront. Depending on the weather there are several delightful lunch stops available in the Elizabeth Islands. The pristine beach and protected anchorage at Quick's Hole on Nashawena Island is a favorite. After a leisurely swim and lunch, continue on past Nobska Point and West Chop to Edgartown, where you will arrive in the late afternoon. The protected anchorage, moorings, launch service, facilities ashore and classic New England atmosphere of the town make Edgartown a must see destination on everyone's itinerary. This would be a good night to dine ashore as the variety of restaurants available is extensive. Distance 55 miles.

Day Two, 10:00am:
After a relaxing breakfast aboard set sail for Tarpaulin Cove on the South shore of Naushon Island, another of the classic picnic stops in the Elizabeth Islands. A brisk afternoon sail across Buzzards Bay brings us to Padanaram Harbor, home of the New Bedford Yacht Club and the world renowned Concordia Yacht Yard. There is limited shopping ashore, yet the center of town is but a short walk from the launch and who knows what treasures may be found. Dinner this evening is definitely aboard, where you will enjoy the chance to view the sunset in unsurpassed tranquility. Distance 35 miles.

Day Three, 09:30am:
Another leisurely start to the day has us setting sail for Woods Hole and Hadley's Harbor. This is an easy sail and allows us to enjoy the prettiest harbor within 100 miles; but, we must get there early as there is limited anchoring space available inside. After lunch the Sou'wester usually perks up and it affords us the opportunity to have a spanking sail down the bay to Cuttyhunk, a quaint island village, at the western end of the chain separating Buzzards Bay from Vineyard Sound. Going ashore you will be struck by the feeling that you're going back in time to the turn of the century or before. Cuttyhunk has several inns where the dining is family style and concentrates on the wholesome, simple specialties of New England Cooking. Distance 35 miles.

Day Four, 10:30am:
Today we depart Cuttyhunk and head westwards again, back to Narragansett Bay and Newport. Depending on the time available a nice lunch stop is at Third Beach in Middletown, a few miles up the Sakonnet River, back in Rhode Island. If we're pressed for time and a stop isn't possible, we should be back in Newport no later than 2:00 in the afternoon, having had a brief glimpse of the best that Southern New England has to offer. Distance 25 miles, nonstop.

Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book your sailing vacation
For more yachts, visit our website: www.ParadiseConnections.com

Friday, February 4, 2011

RECIPE: Favorite BBQ Sauce for Chicken Wings, etc from THREE MOONS

Shelly, owner-operator & chef extraordinaire of the 72-foot charter yacht Three Moons, is sharing their favorite BBQ sauce recipe for the first time online!

This is extremely good timing as you probably are aware that this weekend is the Super Bowl, and it is estimated that Super Bowl watchers will consume 1.25 BILLION chicken wings which adds up to a whopping 100,000,000 pounds of wings for this weekend alone... Amazing!

What is the secret of this really great thick sauce? Two words: molasses & oranges. Mmmmmm... and it's good on everything... chicken, shrimp, ribs, pork, burgers....you name it! Shelly says she'll probably put some of this savory barbecue sauce on their scrambled eggs on Super Bowl morning.

THE CAPTAIN'S FAVORITE BARBECUE SAUCE

Makes approximately 6 cups

Ingredients:

4 tbs Unsalted butter

2 cups Vinegar

2 cups Ketchup

1/2 cup Worcestershire sauce

1/4 cup Molasses, or more to taste

1/4 cup Brown sugar

3 tbs Onion, finely chopped

2 tbs Tabasco Chipotle Pepper Sauce

3 cloves Garlic, minced

2 tsp Liquid smoke

1 tbs Salt

3 tbs Orange zest, or more to taste

1 tsp Orange extract

1 tsp Mrs. Dash Original Blend Seasoning

1/2 tsp Black pepper

1/2 tsp Cayenne

Method:

In a large pot, bring all ingredients to a slow boil.

Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes.

Charter Yacht Three Moons - Caribbean sailing vacations in the Virgin Islands

Three Moons is an owner-operated, 72-foot Irwin ketch with a crew of three. Three Moons is fully air conditioned and has four double cabins with ensuite heads/showers. There's also the possibility of swapping out one of the double cabins for the forward cabin with twin upper/lower bunks, if that is better suited for the make up of your group.

Three Moons: excellent food, fun, and hospitality... What's not to like???

Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book THREE MOONS
View Three Moons' online brochure #1 and online brochure #2
For more yachts, visit our website: www.ParadiseConnections.com

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

RECIPE: Conch Fritters from Kerry of PROMENADE

Kerry, owner-operator of Promenade, a 65-foot trimaran that offers diving and yacht charters in the Virgin Islands, sent us this recipe which is always a hit with her guests...

KERRY'S CONCH FRITTERS

Makes approximately 20-24 large conch fritters

INGREDIENTS:

Conch mixture:

2 Conch, large
Assorted vegetables, chopped small:

Carrot
Mushrooms
Green & red peppers
Celery
Onion
Green Onions

Lemon juice
Tabasco
Seasoning salt
Pepper

1 can Beer
2 cups Flour
Oil, to fry conch mixture

Cocktail sauce:

Mayonnaise
Ketchup
Horseradish
Pepper

METHOD:

Clean conch and put them in a food processor with a knife blade and grind/chop for several minutes. I grind until the mixture is almost like paste instead of chunks.
Transfer conch paste to a bowl, add chopped vegetables.
Add (to taste) a few tablesppons of lemon juice, tabasco, seasoning salt, pepper, or your favorite spice.
Mix together well and let marinate overnight to bring out the flavors.
The next day, boil the oil in the pot used for deep frying.
Mix 3/4 can of been into the conch mixture (Chef gets leftover) and put in enough flour to make a sticky, gooey mess which is hard to get off your fingers... about 2 cups.
Drop rounded spoonfuls of conch mixture into the oil, cooking until crispy.

SERVING:

I serve mine with homemade cocktail sauce, made up of approximately 70% mayonnaise to 25% ketchup, and as much horseradish as I want it to be hot, and some pepper, too.

Charter Yacht Promenade

Caribbean Sailing & Diving Yacht Charters in the Virgin Islands

Promenade is a 65-foot trimaran that accommodates up to 10 guests in 5 cabins. The two forward cabins have Queen berths and ensuite head/shower, while the 3 aft cabins (one Queen, and two cabins that can either be configured as Twins or a King) share 2 heads with showers.

Promenade offers diving, has loads of watertoys, and plenty of lounging space to relax and hang out.

Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book PROMENADE
View Promenade's online brochure
For more yachts, visit our website: www.ParadiseConnections.com

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Friday, February 18, 2011

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Friday, February 4, 2011

Tuesday, February 1, 2011